Serah Onuoha
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) convened a critical Field Dialogue in Abuja, uniting UN agencies and national counterparts to devise a coordinated response to the growing threat of transnational organized crime (TOC) in Nigeria and the West African region.
UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Mohammed Malick Fall, emphasized that TOC poses a significant threat to the work of every UN agency, undermining collective efforts across sectors and impeding the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, highlighted the various forms of TOC in Nigeria, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, cybercrime, and illicit financial flows. On
Technological Advancements, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, Director of Assets and Financial Investigation at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stressed that criminals have become technologically adept, making it essential for law enforcement agencies to stay ahead.
The Field Dialogue forms part of a global UN initiative launched by UNODC Headquarters, recognizing TOC as a major threat to peace, security, and sustainable development. The UN is working to develop a unified conceptual framework and enhance inter-agency coordination.
Nigeria’s strategic position in West Africa, coupled with vulnerabilities to human trafficking, arms smuggling, and illicit financial flows, places it at the center of this effort. The country’s pivotal role in tackling transnational organized crime was reaffirmed by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed during her recent visit.
Insights from this dialogue will inform the upcoming High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) meeting in New York later this year, where a unified approach to combating TOC will be discussed.
